YOUR Best Shoes For Plantar Fasciitis?

How do you choose?

Do We Need More Data?

Yes, but also “Learn to listen to your body!”

It’s a subtle concept –  but it worked for me on the bike!

My previous post stated that “There are no best shoes for plantar fasciitis, it’s an illusion!”

These results were adjusted for my estimate of risk associated with treatment – high for surgery, low for changing your shoes.

My ongoing research indicates that “People have the most success with shoes, as a treatment option.”

What’s going on?

It does not appear to be about the brand of shoes! Many brands have clearly provided relief.

In my opinion, it’s about how each individual responds, to THEIR change of shoes.

Some people try several brands, with no relief. How many can one person afford to try?

Some people try many other treatments, with no success. Those are the people I hope to reach, with body-awareness work, to help them find the root cause.

Click image for link to see the data, as they come in.

Here are the shoes, so far, that have been reported to provide relief, in the ongoing survey:

• Crocs, Birkenstock, Vionic, Dansko, Flip Flops, FitFlops, Gravity Defyer, Chaco Sandals, Barefoot (no shoes), 
• New Balance (2x), Kuru, Trainers, Frankie 4 (1x). Skechers (2x), Asics (4x), Gabor with my own insoles, 
• Vibrams, Finn Comfort, Brooks (2x), ALegria, 2″ heels, Joya, Teva Sandals, Saucony, Naots

Not to mention Z-Coil, and others reported on Facebook.

Think about it!

What IS going on? The foot gods aren’t smiling on them?

So far, I have come up with only one acceptable conclusion, other than ‘I don’t know!’

Altered, often subtle, body movement patterns.

Before you rush out to buy your plantar fasciitis shoes, a little work is recommended – follow the advice, attributed to Einstein. Think, think again, study, observe, then act! Then you may, just may, find your best shoes for plantar fasciitis! Don’t hold your breath, my friend, just cross your toes!

I recommend a little body-awareness training, if you want to,

1. Save money on shoe selection.
2. Improve your chances of success.
3. Move freely into old age.

If you are unaware of how your body reacts, how are you going to choose the best plantar fasciitis shoes, or other treatment for you? I needed an Osteopath, the second time, and no end of shoes would have done the trick.

My body-awareness training developed over many years:

• Judo (1 year) – learning to land on the mat, from a throw, without breaking anything.
• Kung Fu (2 years) – withstanding pain, appreciating CHI, and learning that I could do more than I thought I could.
• Jeet Kune Do, the Bruce Lee Fighting style (2 years) – the power of biomechanical skills, and choosing what works.
• Yoga (2 years) – inner strength, balance, flexibility.
• Pilates (1 year) – core strengthening
• Feldenkrais (5 years) – skeletal awareness, flexibility, and listening to my body.
• Continuum (2 years) – understanding of fascial (loose connective tissue) structure, and the influence of sound.

A long, and expensive journey. But I finally learned to listen to my body.

Our bodies are talking to us, all the time.

We generally only listen to pain.

When you try on some shoes for plantar fasciitis, walk around in them. Stand in them. Try standing on one leg (safely), in them. Try turning, jumping around, and listen, with this question in mind, “What does my body think of these shoes?”

Take note of what your body has to say. You won’t hear it with head phones on, or talking to someone.

Just listen, and you might be lucky enough to hear your body say, “That feels better!” Then, buy them!

Then, think about that. Why does it feel better? What are these shoes doing to me? Then tell us about it.

That is how progress is made.

Wishing you happy feet.

FitOldDog